Analysing smart meter data plays an essential role in reducing carbon emissions and ensuring a successful energy transition. As low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps become more widespread, they will place greater demands on the electricity grid (total electricity demand is expected to increase from ~300TWh to ~450TWh by 2035, according to NESO). Ensuring the effective supply of and demand for energy makes it increasingly important to understand household consumption. This requires a clear understanding of how different kinds of households in Great Britain (GB) consume energy, what their daily usage looks like in terms of peaks and falls in consumption, along with what heating systems they own and when they might need to upgrade them.

At Nesta, we analysed smart meter data to understand energy consumption in GB households. We aimed to determine the feasibility of grouping households based on their energy consumption data, identifying the various daily and seasonal patterns, proportions, and amounts of energy people in GB consume. To achieve this, we utilised the Smart Energy Research Lab (SERL) dataset, which offers half-hourly gas and electricity consumption data, along with household survey data, for over 13,000 representative GB households. From this sample, we selected approximately 6,000 households with high-quality data spanning July 2023 to June 2024. The resulting energy-use profiles offer insight into the different ways in which households consume energy, paving the way for more targeted interventions.

The following sections highlight key insights from exploring the energy-use profiles. For a more detailed exploration of the results, please visit energy-use-profiles-explorer.dap-tools.uk.

The video linked below shows a screen recording of how the energy-use profiles explorer can be used.